Leadership - National Consumers League

National Consumers League Board of Directors

The National Consumers League, a private, nonprofit membership organization, is governed by a board of directors with experience in consumer protection and advocacy, law, business, labor, and public affairs. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NCL has affiliated members from every state and collaborates with an extensive nationwide consumer action network. Organizational affiliations are provided for identification purposes only. Board members serve on an individual basis.

Officers

Jon Leibowotz - President, Federal Trade Commission (Retired)

Sharon White-Páez – Vice President, Potomac Waves Media

Richard Fiesta – Treasurer, Alliance for Retired Americans

Joi Chaney – Secretary, J.O.I Strategies

Directors

Jenny Backus - Backus Consulting, LLC

Debra Berlyn - Consumer Policy Solutions

Dr. Marvin L. J. Blye - The Blye Group

Jose Borjon - Akin Gump

Kirstin Downey - Honolulu Civil Beat

Pamela Gilbert - Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, LLP

Pastor Herrera, Jr. - California State University-Northridge

Andrea LaRue - NVG, LLC

Maureen Thompson - Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

NCL Staff

Chief Executive Officer

Sally Greenberg, JD - Chief Executive Officer, National Consumers League

Sally Greenberg is a champion of consumer and worker rights and joined the National Consumers League (NCL) as Executive Director on October 1, 2007. An expert on a broad spectrum of issues, Sally has testified before Congress and federal agencies on privacy matters, food labeling, geopolitical tracking, teen financial literacy and NCL’s teen LifeSmarts program, child labor, fraud, product safety, data privacy, auto safety, and prescription drug access, safety and affordability. In 2022, Sally assumed the role of CEO, continuing to advance NCL’s mission of advocating for fairness and transparency in the marketplace.

Before joining NCL, Sally honed her expertise as Senior Product Safety Counsel at Consumers Union from 1997 to 2007, where she focused on product liability, food safety, and auto safety. Earlier in her career, she worked at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Foreign Claims Settlement Commission and served over a decade as Eastern States Civil Rights Counsel for the Anti-Defamation League in Boston, combating discrimination and promoting justice.

Sally’s public service journey began as a legislative correspondent for Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) and later as a legislative assistant for Congressman Toby Moffett (D-CT).Throughout her career, Sally has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to empowering women and advancing equity. She served as president of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts and the Women’s Bar Foundation, contributing to several gubernatorial commissions under Massachusetts Governor William Weld.

Sally brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, serving on prominent boards and advisory councils. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Fair Labor Association and the Alliance for a Stronger FDA. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Council of Tzedek DC and participates in the ANSI Consumer Information Forum. Committed to her community, Sally volunteers as Co-President of Temple Sinai Women of Reform Judaism.

Her prior leadership roles include serving on the boards of the Alliance for Justice and HALT, an organization dedicated to legal system reform. She was also appointed to the Board of the Reagan-Udall Foundation, established to support the FDA. Sally’s previous board memberships further include the Keystone Center, Trillium Asset Management, Responsive Law, and Impact100 DC.

Sally’s thought leadership extends to writing, with publications including a chapter, “Who’s Minding Our Business,” in the National Museum of American History’s 2015 volume, American Enterprise, as well as numerous law review articles and an Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Communications & Marketing

Lisa McDonald - Vice President of Communications

Lisa McDonald is a senior executive recognized for her expertise in marketing and communications, where she has crafted impactful campaigns to elevate brands, grow market share, promote organizational missions, and expand philanthropy for national organizations. As Vice President of Communications for the National Consumers League (NCL), Lisa brings over 25 years of strategic communications, marketing, policy, and fundraising to support consumer advocacy initiatives.

Lisa has held senior leadership roles across nonprofit, corporate, agency, and academic environments, consistently driving growth and engagement. At RealWave® Neuropathy Treatment Centers, she expanded operations from three to eleven centers as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. As Chief Communications Officer for the National Breast Cancer Coalition, she elevated the organization’s profile and enhanced philanthropic support during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her role as Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, she expanded media coverage, increased event audiences, grew membership, and secured corporate support for educational initiatives.

Adept at navigating complex media landscapes, Lisa is known for her crisis communication skills and her ability to build strong stakeholder relationships within the healthcare and nonprofit communities. As a Vice President at Reingold, Lisa supervised client accounts with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and nonprofit organizations while managing a media relations team of seven. During her tenure at George Washington University Hospital, she led a marketing team that earned over 75 awards for advertising, publications, websites, and digital media. Her early roles, including Director of Marketing for HCA Dominion Hospital and Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Northern Virginia, underscore her commitment to mental health and public health. Raised in New York, Lisa holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the State University of New York and lives in Washington, D.C.

Sepideh Karaee - Graphic Designer

Sepideh Karaee joined the National Consumers League in November 2022 as a Graphic Designer. She has 10+ years of experience in the management of completing design processes from conceptualization to delivery. Sepideh is certified in advertising, engineering, and creative ads’ modern techniques. She has a bachelor’s degree in printing technology and a master’s in Art Research from the Art university of Iran.

Allison Chinyavong - Communications Associate, Web, Digital & Social Media

Allison Chinyavong is a communications professional with expertise in digital engagement, community outreach and advocacy communications. She brings over two years of experience in public health communications from the Institute of Public Health Innovation and an additional year in advertising with Yelp. Allison earned a B.S. in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Maggie Oliverio - Communications Associate, Media Relations

Maggie Oliverio joined the National Consumers League (NCL) in November 2024 as a Media Relations Communications Associate. With a strong background in political communications, media relations, and content creation, Maggie works closely with Communications VP Lisa McDonald and the NCL team to amplify the organization’s mission. She began her career as a Press Assistant for U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, where she managed a wide range of communications efforts. Maggie holds a B.S. in Journalism from West Virginia University, with minors in Public Relations and English.

Development

Karen Silberstein - Senior Director of Development

Karen Silberstein joined the staff of NCL in July 2018. She has a background in fundraising and development, as well as program implementation in Workforce Development/Career and Technical Education. As Senior Director of Development, Karen is delighted to be working with the development team to support NCL’s mission. She brings strategic relationship building skills with extensive experience managing projects, and designing and developing collateral materials. Her most recent position involved outreach and events for University of the District of Columbia Community College, Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning.

Previously she worked in program development, researching funding opportunities and best practices in program implementation for Home Builders Institute, a training provider focused on the building trades. She holds B.A. in English from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in French Literature and Culture from Columbia University. Recently, Karen has pursued graduate coursework in Public Administration at the University of the District of Columbia.

Toby Mulford - Associate Director of Development

Toby Mulford joined the National Consumers League in June 2021 as the Development Manager. He has an extensive background in nonprofit theater and education, with 13 years as the Associate Artistic Director for Traveling Players Ensemble, a company that teaches theater and outdoor skills to teens and preteens. He also served as Managing Director for DC’s award-winning Faction of Fools Theatre Company. He holds a Bachelors of Science from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Fine Arts from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater.

LifeSmarts

Cristina Counts - LifeSmarts Associate Program Director

Cristina was born and raised in San Diego and graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a minor in Spanish. She followed her passion for current events and always being “in the know” into the TV news business, working as a TV News Producer in San Diego, Albuquerque, and Dallas/Fort Worth over 11 years.

Cristina then decided to change gears and follow “the family business,” becoming a teacher just like her mother, brother, and sister. She has taught everything from Bilingual 5th grade to High School Alternative Education. Most recently, Cristina taught high school at a private school, where she was responsible for teaching all subjects to a small class of 9-12th graders. It was during this time that she became actively involved in LifeSmarts.

As the coach of a 3-time Texas State Championship team, Cristina even led her team to the Sweet 16! After leaving the classroom, she was hired to write curriculum for LifeSmarts, including units on Healthcare, Post-secondary Education, and Social Media Awareness.

Cheryl Varnadoe - LifeSmarts Associate Program Director

Cheryl’s main responsibilities include planning and conducting LifeSmarts outreach, marketing, and social media; recruiting and training LifeSmarts State Coordinators, coaches and teams; creating active collaborations with LifeSmarts CTSO / youth leadership organization partners; and presenting LifeSmarts at national conferences / meetings. She also manages the LifeSmarts engagement Advisory Panel, a group of high school students who provide youth voice to the LifeSmarts program.

Before joining NCL, Cheryl worked 34 years as a 4-H County Extension Agent and University of Georgia 4-H Extension Specialist. She developed and conducted youth-centered consumer education programs and competitions. She received the National LifeSmarts Coordinator of the Year Award in 2018.

Cheryl earned her Master’s of Education degree from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. She and her husband love to cheer on their son who is a Collegiate Clay Target champion. Cheryl gets her peace on the water, loves lake life, music, and college football; and she is a 4-H volunteer leader / coach.

Ryan Barhoush - LifeSmarts Competitions Coordinator

Ryan Barhoush joined the National Consumers League in January 2022 as a Program Associate supporting both the LifeSmarts Program and NCL’s Food Safety & Nutrition public policy area. Prior to joining NCL, Ryan interned at Gulf International Forum as a research analyst studying OPEC. Besides being a consumer advocate, Ryan is passionate about foreign policy, corruption and transparency issues, and anti-trust monopolies in the marketplace. Ryan received his BA in Political Science from the University of Central Florida.

Elena Robertson - LifeSmarts Associate Program Director

Elena Robertson is the Development Manager for LifeSmarts, NCL’s consumer education program that teaches real-world skills to more than 125,000 teens each year. Elena joined the National Consumers League in April 2020 as the Development Associate for LifeSmarts. Since joining NCL, Elena has increased LifeSmarts’ engagement with corporate partners and built upon the LifeSmarts Alumni Program. In early 2021, Elena created the LifeSmarts Alumni Advisory Board, a group of young professionals and LifeSmarts Alumni who help shape the programming and engagement of the LifeSmarts Alumni Association.

Elena has been working in non-profit fundraising and development since 2015, previously working at the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors before coming to NCL. Elena is from Fairfax, VA; she holds a Bachelors of Arts from Christopher Newport University and a Master of Arts from the University of London. When not focusing on LifeSmarts, Elena enjoys volunteering for causes that she cares about and is an avid marathon runner.

Operations & Finance

Arlene Johnson - Managing Director

Arlene Johnson joined the National Consumers League in January 2018. She is responsible for the financial management and daily operational efficiency at NCL. She works closely with the executive director in overseeing the resources and needs of the organization.

Arlene has developed a passion for working for non-profit organizations that are committed to making a difference in society. She is committed to educating individuals in matters that promote the greater good.

Before joining NCL, Arlene spent 10 years as director of finance and administration at Brookings Executive Education, where she supported the education of executives in leadership and policy issues. Arlene’s prior experience includes financial management at George Washington University, MCI Telecommunications, and PepsiCo Inc. She has also served as the Chief Operating Officer of an interior design firm.

Arlene is a graduate of Howard University, where she earned a B.B.A degree with a concentration in Finance.

Andrea Smith - Associate Director, Operations and Finance

Andrea Smith joined the National Consumers League as operations manager in January 2019. She assists the managing director with improving operational systems, processes, and policies towards supporting NCL’s mission. She also collaborates in the development of short- and long-term strategic goals for the operations department.

Prior to joining NCL, Andrea worked for 12 years as the director of finance and administration for the non-profit education association American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), where she was responsible for daily operations, human resources, and financial management.

Andrea has also worked for the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), Red Coats Janitorial Services, and Potomac Services in finance and administration management.

Andrea is currently a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Paine College.

Rogina Knight - Executive Assistant/Office Manager

Rogina Knight joined NCL as the Executive Assistant/Office Manager in May 2023. She has over twenty years of administrative experience and ten years of experience working with non-profit organizations.

Originally from New York City, she moved to the DMV to attend Howard University. Rogina is certified in adult trauma healing, and when she is not working, she spends time counseling women who have been through traumatic experiences. Rogina is an avid reader, loves hiking, games nights, and spending time with her son and grandson.

Public Policy: Child Labor & Workers’ Rights

Reid Maki - Director of Child Labor Advocacy and Coordinator of the Child Labor Coalition

Reid Maki joined the National Consumers League in March 2008. In his work at NCL, Reid coordinates the activities of the Child Labor Coalition, striving to minimize abusive child labor and to protect the health, safety, and well-being of child workers in the United States and abroad. Reid is a proponent of corporate social responsibility, including fair labor standards for American workers.

Prior to joining NCL, Reid worked for 12 years at the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) where he directed the Children in the Fields campaign, a joint effort launched by AFOP, NCL, and the International Initiative to End Child Labor. Their goal was to end the legal loopholes in child labor law that permit child agricultural wage laborers to work longer hours and to work at younger ages than children working in other industries. Reid was an active member of the Child Labor Coalition between 1994 and 2006.

Reid worked for both daily and weekly newspapers as a reporter earlier in his career. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in American History at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Stanford University, respectively.

Public Policy: Food Safety & Nutrition

Nancy Glick - Director of Food and Nutrition Policy

Nancy Glick joined the staff of the National Consumers League as Director of Food and Nutrition Policy in September 2020 after a long career in health and nutrition communications, advocacy, and public policy.

At NCL, Nancy works closely with the executive director and stakeholder organizations to develop policy positions and mount education and advocacy campaigns on key issues of concern to consumers, including food insecurity, food safety, eliminating food waste, food fraud, obesity and diet-related diseases, and improving food and beverage labeling.

Prior to joining NCL, Nancy worked in the public relations field designing and implementing communications, social marketing, disease awareness, healthcare and nutrition advocacy, and public policy programs. From 2009 through mid-2020, Nancy was Director of Health Affairs and Advocacy at the global public relations firm MSL, working with a team of advocacy specialists to assist the firm’s clients in forming strategic alliances with health, medical, consumer, and patient groups in the United States and building coalitions to advance nutrition and health care issues.

Before joining MSL, Nancy served in a variety of executive positions at three other leading public relations agencies — Ruder Finn, Porter/Novelli, and Hill and Knowlton, Inc. Nancy was also a press officer at the Food and Drug Administration, where she handled food, cosmetic, drug, and consumer issues and agency announcements about product recalls.

Sara W. Jaffe - Linda Golodner Food Safety and Nutrition Fellow

Sara was named the Linda Golodner Food Safety and Nutrition Fellow at the National Consumers League in September 2024, bringing extensive experience in advocacy, public policy, and stakeholder engagement. She joined NCL in February 2023, supporting Nancy Glick, Director of Food and Nutrition Policy in developing the Obesity Bill of Rights; and enhancing public health advocacy through research and collaboration with experts and partner organizations.

In addition to her professional work, Sara volunteers with organizations like The Children’s Inn at NIH and previously served on the Board of Directors for Noyes Children’s Library. Her commitment to community service includes a year with AmeriCorps NCCC in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina, where she led volunteer projects and received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

Sara holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a minor in Arts in Healthcare from Columbia College Chicago. She can often be found exploring DC’s parks with her dog Brady.

Public Policy: Fraud, Telecom & Product Safety

John Breyault - Vice President, Public Policy, Telecommunications & Fraud

John Breyault joined the National Consumers League in September 2008. John’s focus at NCL is on advocating for stronger consumer protections before Congress and federal agencies on issues related to telecommunications, fraud, technology, and other consumer concerns. In addition, John manages NCL’s Fraud Center and coordinates the Alliance Against Fraud coalition. John is also Research Director for the Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC), a project of NCL. In his role with TRAC, John advocates on behalf of residential consumers of wireline, wireless, VoIP, and other IP-enabled communications services.

Prior to coming to NCL, John spent five years as director of research at Amplify Public Affairs, where he helped launch the firm’s Web 2.0-based public affairs practice and focused on producing actionable public policy research. Earlier in his career, John worked at Sprint in its International Carrier Services Division and at the American Center for Polish Culture in Washington, DC.

John was a member of the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee from 2005 to 2007 and served on the Board of the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. He is a graduate of George Mason University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations.

James Perry - Consumer Services Manager, Fraud.org

James Perry is a veteran staffer at NCL’s Fraud.org. Since January 2000, he’s been counseling consumers on a variety of scams ranging from telemarketing- to Internet-based issues. James began at the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch programs (now NCL’s Fraud Center) as a fraud counselor, speaking with thousands of consumers each year about cases of suspected and confirmed fraud. James was later promoted to supervise the staff of NCL’s Fraud Center, and he regularly speaks about his experiences counseling fraud victims to the media and nonprofit and law enforcement agencies.

As Consumer Services Coordinator, James monitors complaints submitted to NCL via the complaint form at www.fraud.org and serves as a representative on the Consumer Federation of America’s Fake Checks Working Group. At NCL, James works with law enforcement agencies to transmit consumer fraud complaints to more than 200 agencies in the United States and Canada.

Eden Iscil - Public Policy Manager

Eden Iscil joined the National Consumers League in October 2021. As a public policy manager, they develop and execute NCL’s policy advocacy to advance consumer protections and equitable access to critical services. Eden’s policy portfolio includes the areas of air travel, antitrust, data privacy, financial services, fraud prevention, higher education affordability, and live-event ticketing,

Eden came to NCL from a background of legislative experience. They completed a graduate internship with Congresswoman Elaine Luria preceded by three legislative sessions in the Virginia General Assembly. Besides being an advocate for the public interest, Eden is passionate about parliamentary procedure, Middle East policy, and music theory. Eden received their MA in Political Science from American University and a BA in Political Science and Music from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Daniel Greene - Senior Director, Consumer Protection & Product Safety Policy

Daniel Greene is a former Senior Professional Staff Member for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he developed and executed the House Democratic Caucus’s portfolio on automobile safety, privacy, tech accountability, fuel economy, manufacturing, trade, sports, and animal welfare issues. Daniel is also a former Legislative Assistant in the office of Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), where he led the Senator’s transportation, infrastructure, consumer protection, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and privacy portfolio on both the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee. Daniel received his Master’s in Public Policy and Bachelor’s degree in public policy from the George Washington University.

Public Policy: Health

Samantha Sears - Health Policy Associate

Samantha Sears is the Health Policy Associate here at the National Consumers League, having joined the team in January of 2024. She has worked in the health policy space for nearly five years now. Prior to joining NCL, Sam worked with the National Council of Urban Indian Health, a national organization focusing on the health and wellbeing of urban Natives across the US and the facilities that provide their care.

Besides consumer advocacy, Sam is interested in reproductive justice and equal rights. She moved to DC for graduate school, receiving a MA in Public Policy with a concentration in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies from George Washington University. She received her BA in Mathematics from SUNY Geneseo.

Interns

Emily McKay (2025) - American University

Emily McKay is a Freshman at American University and works in the communications department of the National Consumer League. She is majoring in data science for political science. Previously, Emily has worked with AI enrichment in private and charter schools.

In the future Emily Hopes to work in AI legislation and regulation. She is excited to use the skills and background knowledge that she has gained at NCL.

Luz Vazquez (2024) - Michigan State University

Luz Vazquez, a senior at Michigan State University, worked with the National Consumers League (NCL) and the Child Labor Coalition (CLC) as a summer intern. Her major is in Public Policy with a minor in Leadership to Organizations. Luz’s experience interning with NCL and CLC secured co-sponsors for child labor bills while gaining a deep understanding of the legislative process and enhancing her outreach skills.

In the future, Luz is committed to advancing advocacy for farmworkers, with the aim of becoming a leader and policymaker who champions the needs of her community.

Tesa Hargis (2024) - University of North Texas American University College of Law

Tesa Hargis is entering her third and final year of law school at American University Washington College of Law, with a focus on labor and employment law. Before law school, Tesa earned a BA in International Studies from the University of North Texas and an MA in Human Rights from University College London. After completing law school, Tesa plans to work as a labor lawyer within the government or at a plaintiff-side firm.

Tesa’s summer at NCL was incredibly enriching—she gained valuable insights into the intersection of nonprofit organizations, advocacy, and government regulations. This experience allowed her to further develop the skills she acquired through her education and previous roles, while also learning about the inner workings of a nonprofit organization.

Tesa had the opportunity to engage in research and advocacy efforts, which was both challenging and rewarding. She is deeply inspired by the work of NCL and by leaders like Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO and Child Labor Coalition Director Reid Maki, both of whom have dedicated decades to protecting consumers and ending child labor. Their passion and commitment to these causes are truly motivating.

Eric Feigen (2022) - Brandeis University

Eric Bo-wen Feigen was a health policy intern at the National Consumers League in 2022. During his internship, he found a mentor in NCL’s former Health Policy Director, Jeanette Contreras, who taught him the nuts and bolts of policy advocacy and the power of coalition building to organize broad support for issues that impact the average American. He then had the opportunity to apply what he learned by writing policy statements and providing background research to support NCL’s advocacy efforts.

Eric’s experience at NCL led him to his current position working for the Immune Deficiency Foundation’s policy team as their Regulatory Affairs Manager. In his role, he engages with government agencies, patient coalitions, and legislators on policy to improve access to treatments and encourage the development of new therapies for those affected by primary immunodeficiency disorders.

Eric received dual degrees in International Global Studies and LatinX Studies from Brandeis University, with minors in Economics, Social Policy, and Politics. He keeps in contact with Jeanette who remains a mentor and friend.

Rasheed Christian (2021) - University of Virginia

Rasheed Christian graduated from the University of Virginia in 2022 with a double major in Media Studies and Public Policy at the Batten School. In 2021, Rasheed interned at the National Consumers League, where he assisted the public policy, telecommunications, and fraud team. During this internship that perfectly combined his areas of study in college, he contributed to several projects and research surrounding anti -fraud campaigns, organized a national anti-fraud conference involving various stakeholders and legislators, and co-authored several editions of NCL’s Fraud Alert & Data Insecurity Digest.

Currently, Rasheed is a Strategic Communications Senior Associate at FGS Global, a leading global strategic communications and public affairs consultancy, where he focuses primarily on the film and entertainment industry – a dream come true for him!

While it’s a bit different from his work at NCL, Rasheed continues to apply the skills he honed at NCL, such as concise memo writing and efficient research on unfamiliar topics. He is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with an advocacy group as his experience underscored the importance of effective communication in bridging the gap between consumers, businesses, and government, a principle that inspires him daily and remains central to his work today.

Evan England (2021) - University of Mississippi

Evan England graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2024 with a BA in Public Policy Leadership. He interned with the LifeSmarts division of NCL in the Summer of 2021 after his freshman year of college.

Evan currently works for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Western Kentucky University.

Working for NCL helped Evan improve his communication and research skills. He also learned how to work as a team in a professional setting. He finds inspiration in his faith and in leaders who have supported him when he faced adversity.

Talia Zitner (2020) - Wesleyan University

Talia Zitner is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where she majored in English and Environmental Studies. Her interest in event planning led her to the Aspen Institute, where she works as an Event Coordinator for the Financial Security Program.

Talia worked for NCL in 2020, where much of her work surrounded the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine rollout. While she was an intern, she would meet up with NCL staff for socially distant walks since everyone was online.

Talia’s current work focuses on increasing the wealth of middle and low-income Americans through private and public financial services. She is inspired by the power of convening, community, and a really good meal.